Translation Services at Didim Tapu & Belediye Office - Online Petition
I think we have all been subjected to days where we have paid far too much to have something simple done because we could not speak the language here so trying to be as diplomatic and sensitive to Turkish nationality as I can I have just visited GoPetition and made this, which I hope to present to the mayor and Tapu Office is I can get about 1000 signatures:
Go Petition for Translators at Didim Vouncil and TAPU Offices
http://www.gopetitio...line/30700.html
Regards
Alec
PS Comments on the petition would be greatly appreciated
Translation Services At Didim Tapu & Belediye Office - Online Petition
Started by
AlecD
, Sep 11 2009 10:23 PM
4 replies to this topic
#2
jozsika
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Posted 12 September 2009 - 03:48 PM
G'day AlecD,
Verbal interpreting services on demand to help people out maybe, but any translation should be
official and "noterized".
Otherwise it doesn't have any value.
Neither place is authorized to do so, and will not be.
Too much involves with it.
![:birgits_coffee[1]:](http://www.turkeycentral.com/public/style_emoticons/default/drunk[1].gif)
Regards,
#3
Cukurbagli
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Patiently waiting for 30ºC again
Posted 12 September 2009 - 05:25 PM
Hi ALec. I think this is a good idea in essence, as Jozsika says you might have to accept that official translations won't be allowed, at least at first but once in place the service might be upgraded in the future. I'm not sure, and I'm going to ask a couple of Turkish friends but I have an idea that pleas and petitions like this should be put into formal Turkish language. I'll try and find out and let you know.
It might be a good idea to run it by one of our lawyer members in the Turkish Law forum for their thoughts.
It might be a good idea to run it by one of our lawyer members in the Turkish Law forum for their thoughts.
#4
TLO
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Alvin Santos
Posted 12 September 2009 - 06:36 PM
Hello AlecD,
There is no legal requirement for Tapu officials to speak a foreign language or provide translators at the government's expense. A notable exception where the government would provide a translator are in Criminal cases involving a foreigner, given that a person's life is at stake and the concept of a fair trial.
I seriously doubt that an online petition alone could change an entrenchment administrative policy. However, as a matter of principle, it is within your right to make a complaint about the perceived wrong. I agree with Cukurbagli that in order to make a formal complaint, via pleas or petitions, it should be in Turkish and addressed to the head of the agency.
Your complaint is more political in nature than legal, so perhaps you could try to contact the local MP or bring up the issue with the Turkish Culture & Tourism Office.
Good luck.
There is no legal requirement for Tapu officials to speak a foreign language or provide translators at the government's expense. A notable exception where the government would provide a translator are in Criminal cases involving a foreigner, given that a person's life is at stake and the concept of a fair trial.
I seriously doubt that an online petition alone could change an entrenchment administrative policy. However, as a matter of principle, it is within your right to make a complaint about the perceived wrong. I agree with Cukurbagli that in order to make a formal complaint, via pleas or petitions, it should be in Turkish and addressed to the head of the agency.
Your complaint is more political in nature than legal, so perhaps you could try to contact the local MP or bring up the issue with the Turkish Culture & Tourism Office.
Good luck.
#5
AlecD
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Posted 13 September 2009 - 12:17 PM
Thanks for the kind replies, discussion on the matters as important as signing a petition, Turkey is a wonderful place to live and recently Didim is getting more poor press in local papers and message boards than it should for many things that could be easily resolved if people could communicate better.
I am aware that there is no legal requirement to provide this but it should be done on more a customer service basis, given there are nearly 10000 full and part-time residents and I am sure the service would have benefit to both sides.
Often or not people are frustrated that they cannot ask the simplest questions or get a reply without a costly translation and so many message boards are filled with stories of unhappy people , which is not good for Turkey as a holiday or retirement destination and I strongly hope that a small amount of customer care would negate many of these complaints.
In my own case I recently had to pay 90 YTL to have a 3 page letter to the council translated with regards to a water charge so before I have even begun to resolved the I am 90 YTL down, which to be frank I and many others cannot really afford to repeat so we either concede it is not worth pursuing a complaint or pay up when a local would not. I have a number of Turkish friends who have said they have resolved issues similar to mine just by visiting the Council, which I did try unsuccessfully and I am positive that had the council had a person who could translate at a decent level the matter may have been resolved at a lower level and saved both the council staff and I needless administration, frustration and resentment.
I have also had conversations with a number of people regarding translation services and the discrepancy in the price paid and quality is massive and as stated, most times the documents exchanged are probably not binding in law because they have not been notarised, yet the TAPU Office in particular will not speak to you without an interpreter being present and to have every document notarised on a pension is overly expensive.
I also believe that even if a free service is not possible, people would rather pay a regulated translator a set fee decided by the council and Tapu Office in the knowledge they know the procedures and that the service is consistent in quality and cost.
Thanks again for the replies as they help enlighten us to the law and difficulties, and please be assured that as, if and when we get enough signatures I will ensure that the petition is translated in to Turkish before handing it in.
Alec
I am aware that there is no legal requirement to provide this but it should be done on more a customer service basis, given there are nearly 10000 full and part-time residents and I am sure the service would have benefit to both sides.
Often or not people are frustrated that they cannot ask the simplest questions or get a reply without a costly translation and so many message boards are filled with stories of unhappy people , which is not good for Turkey as a holiday or retirement destination and I strongly hope that a small amount of customer care would negate many of these complaints.
In my own case I recently had to pay 90 YTL to have a 3 page letter to the council translated with regards to a water charge so before I have even begun to resolved the I am 90 YTL down, which to be frank I and many others cannot really afford to repeat so we either concede it is not worth pursuing a complaint or pay up when a local would not. I have a number of Turkish friends who have said they have resolved issues similar to mine just by visiting the Council, which I did try unsuccessfully and I am positive that had the council had a person who could translate at a decent level the matter may have been resolved at a lower level and saved both the council staff and I needless administration, frustration and resentment.
I have also had conversations with a number of people regarding translation services and the discrepancy in the price paid and quality is massive and as stated, most times the documents exchanged are probably not binding in law because they have not been notarised, yet the TAPU Office in particular will not speak to you without an interpreter being present and to have every document notarised on a pension is overly expensive.
I also believe that even if a free service is not possible, people would rather pay a regulated translator a set fee decided by the council and Tapu Office in the knowledge they know the procedures and that the service is consistent in quality and cost.
Thanks again for the replies as they help enlighten us to the law and difficulties, and please be assured that as, if and when we get enough signatures I will ensure that the petition is translated in to Turkish before handing it in.
Alec
